Method and apparatus for treating cloths by spraying with a chemical dispersion including a liquid, the method including: inserting the cloths in a drum that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the drum including paddles, where for each of at least two of the paddles the paddle's longitudinal axis forms an angle α of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the geometrical orthogonal projection of the paddle's longitudinal axis on a geometrical plane which is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis; with a dispersion supply system providing the chemical dispersion to spraying elements; with rotation elements rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis and reversing the rotational direction at least once, and with spraying elements spraying the drum's interior with the dispersion, the spraying elements being attached a to movable door of a chamber enclosing the drum. The apparatus is adapted for executing the method.

Systems, apparatuses and methods for controlling the various phases and in particular in a wash cycle of a wash machine are provided. In particular, the present application relates to controlling the water levels and detergent composition concentrations in order to reduce the amount of water and composition required to provide improved soil removal. The systems, apparatuses and methods provided allow for the use of less water and lower quantities of more concentrated detergent compositions which are customized to the types of soil to be removed.

The invention relates to preventing microplastics from entering the environment. The invention is directed to filtering and compacting microplastics from any effluent, but in particular to filtering and compacting microfibers from the wastewater of washing machines and other appliances. However, the invention may also be applied in any industry where microparticles are generated, e.g. the industrial manufacture of textiles, or in treating roadside runoff, or where microparticles are handled, e.g. in Waste Water Treatment Plants. The invention is a compactor for automatically extracting and compressing microplastics from waste effluent, the compactor comprising; a chamber with an inlet; at least one plate within the chamber moveable between a non-compressing position and a compressing position, and a drive unit for driving the at least one plate; and a discharge outlet arranged to allow the automatic discharge of compressed microplastics.

The invention relates to preventing microplastics from entering the environment. The invention is directed to filtering and compacting microplastics from any effluent, but in particular to filtering and compacting microfibers from the wastewater of washing machines and other appliances. However, the invention may also be applied in any industry where microparticles are generated, e.g. the industrial manufacture of textiles, or in treating roadside runoff, or where microparticles are handled, e.g. in Waste Water Treatment Plants. The invention is a compactor for automatically extracting and compressing microplastics from waste effluent, the compactor comprising; a chamber with an inlet; at least one plate within the chamber moveable between a non-compressing position and a compressing position, and a drive unit for driving the at least one plate; and a discharge outlet arranged to allow the automatic discharge of compressed microplastics.

A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.

A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.

A system (10) for washing items (12) with purified water alone, comprising a washing machine (11), a water purification apparatus (19), and a reservoir (20) for storing purified water, wherein the water purification apparatus (19) comprises a reverse osmosis device (26) and first and second deionizing materials. The washing machine (11) comprises a container (13) for receiving the items (12) to be washed, and said container (13) is arranged with an inlet connected to the reservoir (20), so that the items (12) are washable inside the container (13) with the purified water. The system (10) further comprises a tank (24) for collecting used water from the container (13), wherein an inlet of the tank (24) is connected to an outlet of the container (13). The system (10) also comprises a sediment filter (28) for filtering off particulate solids from the used water, wherein the sediment filter (28) is arranged between the tank (24) and the water purification apparatus (19).

A system (10) for washing items (12) with purified water alone, comprising a washing machine (11), a water purification apparatus (19), and a reservoir (20) for storing purified water, wherein the water purification apparatus (19) comprises a reverse osmosis device (26) and first and second deionizing materials. The washing machine (11) comprises a container (13) for receiving the items (12) to be washed, and said container (13) is arranged with an inlet connected to the reservoir (20), so that the items (12) are washable inside the container (13) with the purified water. The system (10) further comprises a tank (24) for collecting used water from the container (13), wherein an inlet of the tank (24) is connected to an outlet of the container (13). The system (10) also comprises a sediment filter (28) for filtering off particulate solids from the used water, wherein the sediment filter (28) is arranged between the tank (24) and the water purification apparatus (19).

A filtering system (10) includes a casing (12) internally defining a cavity (14) and has an inlet (16) configured to receive a fluid and leading into the cavity (14), and an outlet (18) configured to deliver the fluid coming from the cavity (14). A filtering assembly (100) is contained in the cavity (14) and is configured to be crossed by the fluid entering the casing (12) through the inlet (16), so as to trap any solid particles, in particular microplastic ones, contained in the fluid. A compacting assembly (200) situated in the cavity (14) is configured for collecting and compacting the solid particles trapped by the filtering assembly (100). A driving assembly (300) is configured to drive the compacting assembly (200).

Described and illustrated is a washing machine for washing textiles, including a tub for receiving a washing liquid, a laundry drum inserted at least partially into the tub, a drive for rotating the laundry drum in the tub and a discharge line connected to the tub for discharging washing liquid from the tub. In order to be able to separate the microplastic fibres more easily, cost-effectively and reliably from the washing water or another washing liquid, it is provided that an intermediate storage device is provided for temporarily storing washing liquid discharged via the discharge line, a centrifuge unit rotated by the drive together with the laundry drum for separating microplastic fibres and a return line for transferring the washing liquid from the intermediate storage device into the centrifuge unit.